The civil law and canon law of the Middle Ages were able to enforce all kinds of abuses because the tradition of reverence still attached itself to the sound of 'Rome.' For hundreds of years, one among the German princes was made somewhat more powerful than his neighbours by the fact that he was 'Roman Emperor,' and was called by the name of Caesar.
[16] _Politics_, ch.vii., [Greek: hotan to plethos pros to koinon politeue tai sympheron.] The same difficulties and uncertainties as those which influence the history of a political entity when once formed confront the statesman who is engaged in making a new one.

The great men, Stein, Bismarck, Cavour, or Metternich, who throughout the nineteenth century worked at the reconstruction of the Europe which Napoleon's conquests shattered, had to build up new States which men should respect and love, whose governments they should willingly obey, and for whose continued existence they should be prepared to die in battle.

Races and languages and religions were intermingled throughout central Europe, and the historical memories of the kingdoms and dukedoms and bishoprics into which the map was divided were confused and unexciting.

Nothing was easier than to produce and distribute new flags and coins and national names.

But the emotional effect of such things depends upon associations which require time to produce, and which may have to contend against associations already existing.